National World War II Museum seeking love stories

The National World War II Museum would like readers to share their wartime love stories via Facebook. Visit http://www.facebook.com/WWIILoveStories to share your story.

NEW ORLEANS — Maybe a kiss is just a kiss, but romance never loomed larger than when conducted against the backdrop of World War II. With millions of men and women flung together by the capriciousness of conflict, love bloomed on the Home Front and overseas. To memorialize these great love stories in time for the Valentine’s Day holiday, the National WWII Museum is inviting people to share their family’s wartime love stories via a newly launched World War Love Stories Facebook page.

“Many of us would not be here today if it wasn’t for the fact that WWII brought our grandparents or parents together,” said Clem Goldberger of the National WWII Museum. “My own parents met during World War II. My dad Richard Goldberger, originally from New York, was stationed in the South before shipping out to Europe to fight with the US Army 63rd Infantry Division. He met my mother Joan Benjamin in her home town of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where they married in March 1944. We see this new Facebook initiative as an opportunity for younger Americans to share the wonderful love stories passed down to them from the older generation and a place where people of all ages can memorialize their family members and their stories. We believe this forum will show that, even in the face of war, the power of love can triumph.”

As part of the initiative, Facebook users are invited to “like” the page as well as submit stories, photos, love letters or other thoughts describing a love story that took place during WWII. Everyone who posts between now and Feb. 14, 2011 will be entered into a random drawing to win a commemorative brick that can be personalized in honor of the designated couple and placed on the Museum property in perpetuity.

“This is just one of the many Museum programs designed to encourage the younger generation to learn the stories of the men and women who bravely served in WWII on the battlefront and the Home Front,” Goldberger added. “Last Veterans Day we paired 5th graders with WWII veterans so the students could hear their personal wartime experiences. We feel strongly that their stories must be passed down to younger the generations and never forgotten. It’s central to our mission, and facilitated by programs like these.”

The Museum’s evocative Stage Door Canteen live entertainment venue is getting into the Valentine’s spirit with “Sentimental Journey,” presenting the 17-piece Victory Big Band for dining and dancing to the timeless music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and more. “Sentimental Journey” will be presented weekends through Feb. 27. Reservations and tickets are available online at www.stagedoorcanteen.org or by telephone at 504-528-1943.

The National World War II Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the War that changed the world — why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National World War II Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-527-6012 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org.